Learn About Utah Nursing Schools
Are you a fast thinker who’s great at working as part of a team and coming up with innovative solutions to problems? If this describes you, you may want to think about the possibility of a career in nursing. Nurses fill many roles in Utah, from those in general care clinics and specialty clinics to those in hospitals and retail health providers.
Find out what nursing programs in Utah can teach you and how you can use your education in this state by contacting the schools listed below today.
It’s clear that Utah has a growing need for nurses, leading many schools and employers to try to keep nursing students in the state. St. George News reports that a local nursing program recently received a $100,000 grant to bring in more students and increase the diversity of the program.
Utah is also home to many health programs that aim to make life better and healthier for residents. Healthy Utah reflects a statewide effort to make health care affordable and accessible. As employers and organizations try to reach these goals, nurses can help lower health care costs and improve outcomes.
Nursing Education in Utah
The courses that you’re expected to take as a nursing student should prepare you for many different tasks and responsibilities. You may take courses that teach you about the proper use and administration of medications, the assessment of a patient’s health status, proper treatment protocols, terminology, and nursing procedures.
In your curriculum, you may find classes like Foundations of Professional Nursing, Clinical Nursing Care, Principles of Clinical Management, Acute Care Nursing, Pharmacology, and Pathophysiology.
Throughout these courses, you’ll find your clinical requirements. Requirements vary between schools, but generally speaking, you need to complete at least 500 clinical hours to be eligible for a degree and for licensure.
Utah has a strong community of nursing associations and employers that have extensive scholarship programs for nursing students. The Utah Nurses Association is one of the most popular associations in the state. Through Utah P.E.O., you may be able to apply for multiple scholarships that are offered to nursing students. Intermountain Healthcare is one of the largest health care employers in the state with a nursing scholarship program.
Nursing Education & Career Information in your City
Nursing Schools in Utah
Once you decide to become a nurse in Utah, it’s time to find the right school for you. There are schools with degrees at all levels, with several programs that focus on specific areas of healthcare. The training you get at the best nursing programs in Utah may put you in a position to support physicians and provide evidence-based care to patients.
Utah LPN Programs
- Admissions requirements: High school diploma, physical exam, and clear criminal background check
- Credit hour range: 30 to 35 credits
- Online degree options: Unavailable, since clinical hours are mandatory
- Licensing exams: NCLEX-PN
As a new student, you may want to start working in the field of nursing as quickly as possible. If so, a licensed practical nurse could be the ideal program. It only lasts one year, so you can graduate fairly quickly and figure out if nursing is the right field for you. This may be a good first step if you want to verify that this field is well-suited to you before committing to more training.
BSN Programs in Utah
- Admissions requirements: High school diploma, physical exam, and criminal background check
- Credit hour range: 120 to 130 credits
- Online degree options: Blended degree options combine clinical hours and online study
- Licensing exams: NCLEX-RN
If you want to become a registered nurse, consider bypassing an Associate’s degree in nursing and moving straight to a baccalaureate nursing degree. This four-year program may include roughly two years of general education and two years of nursing education. The training you get may help you develop your critical and clinical thinking abilities, while putting you in line for a leadership role.
Utah MSN Schools
- Admissions requirements: A Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a current Utah nursing license
- Credit hour range: 30 to 60 credits
- Online degree options: Limited; offered in some administrative specialties
- Licensing exams: Vary, based on your area of study and national certification board
You may be interested in earning your Utah nursing degree online. A Master’s degree may be the best option for you. Administrative specialties, like informatics and leadership, often have online degree options. However, if you want to go into a clinical nursing specialty, you still have to get plenty of clinical hours. Some of the most popular clinical specialties include nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, and nurse anesthetist.
DNP and PhD Nursing Programs in Utah
- Admissions requirements: A Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a current Utah nursing license
- Credit hour range: 80 to 90 credits
- Online degree options: Limited, since most programs require in-person teaching and research work
- Licensing exams: Determined by each national certification board
If you want to reach the highest level of education in nursing, a doctoral degree may be what you’re looking for. If you want to specialize in clinical practice, a DNP is an option to explore. Those who want to go into academia may opt for a PhD.
Is it time to take the next step in your nursing career? Use our list of schools to contact Utah nursing programs in your community.
Nursing Colleges in Utah with Nursing Bridge Programs
You may be interested in a bridge program if you don’t fit the typical student mold. Many students begin with a nursing certificate, a nursing diploma, or a non-nursing degree. You may use your previous education to streamline the process of becoming a nurse and taking your career to the next level.
If you currently possess an Associate’s degree in nursing, you could finish your BSN at one of the online nursing colleges in Utah. These schools generally only accept nurses with at least one year of experience, so they may not require additional clinical hours. On average, plan on spending 18 to 24 months earning your BSN. RN to MSN programs are another popular option, combining BSN and MSN courses in a three-year program.
Other programs are meant to fit the needs of those with non-nursing Bachelor’s degrees. No matter what field you’ve studied in the past, your general education classes may help you save time in an accelerated BSN program. The quickest programs last just 12 months, with some programs lasting as long as 24 months. In a direct entry MSN program, you may earn your nursing license fairly quickly before moving on to graduate coursework.
Tips for Choosing the Top Nursing Schools in Utah
As you compare nursing schools in Utah, you may wonder how you can start narrowing down your options and selecting which school fits your needs. First, make sure that the school you attend prepares you for the licensure process. From there, you can shorten your list by thinking about what you want to get from your nursing education.
Licensure is the end goal of all nursing programs. To qualify for licensure through the Utah State Board of Nursing, you have to attend an accredited school. You may be able to get licensed with a degree from an unaccredited school, but the process is time consuming and it doesn’t guarantee acceptance at the end. You may find that most nursing programs are accredited by either the ACEN or the CCNE.
You may want to compare nursing programs based on clinical options. Every accredited school should meet the bare minimum requirements, but you may want to go beyond minimum standards and get as much experience as possible. Furthermore, you may want to get experience in a specialized area of nursing. If so, it’s important to ask about opportunities and only consider schools that offer training in your area of interest.
Before you can become an LPN or RN, you have to pass the appropriate NCLEX exam. Check on each school’s NCLEX pass rate to figure out which schools prepare their students for the rigors of licensure.
2018 Career Outlook for Nursing Professions
Now that you’ve chosen a school and you’re excited about your future in nursing, you may want to start looking into the job opportunities in Utah.
Licensed practical nurses may work in nursing homes, hospice facilities, and home healthcare institutions. Graduates of licensed practical nursing degree programs may seek licensure as LPNs. On average, Utah LPNs earn $42,720 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). Demand for LPNs is high in this state, with an expected 21% increase in job openings by 2024 (O*Net, 2017).
There are several paths you may follow to become a registered nurse, but you may choose to begin with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The average income for a registered nurse in Utah is $62,360 per year (BLS, 2017). Between 2014 and 2024, job openings may see a 33% boost (O*Net, 2017).
Nurse practitioners may enjoy the strongest job outlook in Utah. This journey begins at a nurse practitioner degree program. The average salary for a Utah NP is $102,070 per year (BLS, 2017). A 46% boost in job openings is anticipated by 2024 (O*Net, 2017).
In Utah, healthcare is growing rapidly. As a result, many facilities are hoping to expand services throughout the state (Daily Herald, 2017). This may lead to an increase in demand for nurses with specialized training.
Are you ready to get started? Make your move now by reaching out to Utah nursing schools that offer your degree of choice.
